Loving Ashe Read online

  “You could have at least answered my calls, Ashe,” Collette said at last. “Mr. Reign was furious that you were not at the dinner. And I mean really furious. One minute you were there with everyone else, and the next, you were gone.”

  “I’m sorry, Collette,” Ashe said in a reassuring tone. “I’ll make sure to let him and the producers know that it was all my fault. I’ll tell them that I felt so cooped up that I simply had to get out for some fresh air. I’ve barely been back in action -”

  “But you missed the meeting with the producers! We’ve only been planning this for six months, Ashe! Just because you wrote the damn screenplay doesn’t mean you can simply skip out on important meetings like this! This is the second time they’ve tried to arrange a meeting with you, and then you end up missing it again anyway,” Collette snapped, though her voice softened. “At least the first time, it was a family emergency and they understood well enough to give you a second chance – and even finance the movie without you being physically there.”

  Ashe’s face grew somber then.

  “Oh, and guess who was smart enough to actually show up at the dinner, even if he did run through a problem in that same elevator?” Collette continued, ignoring Ashe’s expression. “It wouldn’t surprise me if they’ll be considering him for the role now. Isobel says that since you and her aren’t getting back together, she’d rather work with someone who actually wants her around.”

  “That’s Isobel’s prerogative, Collette,” Ashe said.

  She crossed her arms in front of her chest. “You may still be the frontrunner, Ashe, but Gareth turned on the charm tonight. He nailed that accent you’ve only been working for weeks to perfect!”

  Riley stared at Collette. For a few seconds, she felt faint. Did Collette just say Gareth’s name?

  “Did someone get trapped in the elevator again?” she asked, doing her best to simply act concerned, and not looked panicked at all.

  Collette shook her head. “No, not trapped. But someone left a can of pepper spray in there. It had no markings, and somehow, Gareth though it was…” Her voice faded and she shook her head. “He’d had a few drinks during the junket so he was pretty toasted. He must have thought it was hairspray when he went down to the lobby to look for some girl. Not that he even needs hairspray, for God’s sake. That’s what hair and make-up people are for. What was he thinking?”

  Collette groaned in frustration. “I swear, Ashe, you and Gareth sometimes – it’s like herding cats. I don’t know how you guys always manage to get into trouble every time you end up together. You’re like children!”

  “Did you say pepper spray?” Riley asked, though what she really wanted to do was turn to Ashe and ask, so you know Gareth? and all the while wondering if she happened to say Gareth’s name inside the elevator.

  “Yes, I said pepper spray,” Collette said.

  Riley looked at Ashe, horrified, though Collette didn’t notice the glance that passed between them. Ashe was nonchalant, as if hearing what happened to Gareth was actually amusing to him.

  “Tonight’s been a complete disaster,” Collette grumbled, glaring at Ashe again. “And then you had to disappear like that with some girl. I tried to catch you but you got into that cab before I could call you. You know you’re not supposed to do that, Ashe, not on company time. And now we’ve got pictures of you all over Twitter and Tumblr when you and I know how important it is that you be seen with only Isobel. I mean, any publicity is good publicity but you know how I feel about things like this. You’ve got an image to project, Ashe. We’ve got to keep it up.”

  “Collette, Riley is not just some girl,” Ashe said, his voice sounding like a caress. “I’m afraid I didn’t introduce you two. This is Riley, by the way. She was trapped in the elevator with me, and I thought we’d celebrate our freedom with some dinner. Riley, this is Collette Williams. She’s my manager, and a damn good one, too. I owe my Hollywood success to her.”

  Riley held out her hand towards Collette and she shook it, though the woman’s grip was brief and light as if she couldn’t be bothered. She also seemed unaffected when Ashe turned on the charm full throttle, pointing a finger at him and waving it.

  “And don’t think you can pull your British charms on me, Ashe. You could at least have texted me about your plans. You could have brought her along with you to the dinner if you really wanted to – though not looking like that. There is a dress code, after all,” Collette said, casting Riley a disapproving look though Riley swore she saw the hint of a smile on the woman’s face. There was surely something to be said about that British charm, she thought. Still, there was Gareth.

  “This Gareth,” Riley stammered. “Is he all right?”

  “He’s fine,” Collette replied, her eyes narrowing as she eyed Riley. “The pepper spray was out of date, thank God, so it wasn’t as effective as it would have been otherwise. He should have known better, anyway. And this better not leave this car – this thing with the pepper spray.”

  “I wonder who could have left the pepper spray in the elevator,” Ashe mused as he leaned back against the seat, crossing his arms in front of him as he cast a playful glance towards Riley. “I do hope he’s fine. We wouldn’t want Gareth to lose his chance of getting the role and claim that someone sabotaged him now, would we?”

  “I hope he’s okay,” Riley stammered. “I’d hate to think that he-”

  “He’ll be all right. It’s not any worse than any of the pranks you both pulled on each other on set, from what I’ve heard,” Collette said, shaking her head disapprovingly.

  Ashe touched Riley’s arm. “We should just count ourselves lucky that we didn’t notice that pepper spray can when we were in there, shouldn’t we? What if we’d ended up using it then? That would have been awful, having to deal with the effects of that chemical in such a small space.”

  Riley stared at him. Damn, but Ashe was good, so convincing. He even had Collette nodding her head and saying, “Well, I’m so glad it wasn’t you, Ashe. Then I’d really get into trouble with Mr. Reign. After all, you’re big, kiddo. Huge! This movie is already impressing the critics – the critics, mind you! And there’s no room for mistakes from here on, remember? Your dance card is full, darling. Just for the next 18-months, it’s already so full. What did I tell you, huh? You’re big!”

  The limousine double-parked in front of her building and Riley quickly grabbed her purse and scooted towards the door. Ashe opened the door for her and got out first, unconcerned by the prospect of getting drenched all over again.

  “Where the hell are you going now, Ashe?” Collette called after him as he followed Riley, stopping beneath the canopy in front of the building.

  “Drive around and I’ll come right back down,” Ashe said, not waiting to hear Collette’s objection as he followed Riley into the building.

  Reluctant to get into another elevator just yet, Riley headed for the stairs. Her canvas shoes made squishy noises against the floor but she didn’t care. Ashe walked right behind her, though soon he was next to her on the stairs, and then ahead of her. By the time she reached the fifth floor she was out of breath, but Ashe seemed hardly affected by the workout.

  “Show off,” she muttered as she made her way towards her apartment, fished out her key from her purse and unlocked her door. She deposited her purse on the floor before turning around to face Ashe, who remained outside in the hallway.

  “Thanks for walking me to my door, even though you didn’t need to,” she said, handing him his jacket though she couldn’t help but admire his toned physique through the soaked shirt that he wore.

  “It was my pleasure,” he said, draping the jacket over his arm. “I’d have carried you up the stairs if you needed me to-”

  “I did not!”

  “No, you didn’t,” he grinned. “You did quite well on your own.”

  “You better get back to your car,” Riley laughed. “Collette will be calling you any time now- ”

  As if on cue, his phon
e rang.

  “There you go,” Riley said.

  Ashe shrugged. He dug his hands into his trouser pockets to turn off the phone, grinning as he leaned against the doorframe. “Well, goodnight then, Just-Riley. It was wonderful meeting you tonight.”

  “Same here,” Riley said. “Good luck with your career.”

  “Thank you,” Ashe said. He walked towards the elevator, though Riley could have sworn he was taking his time.

  “Ashe, can I ask you something?” She asked just when he was about to press the elevator call button.

  He turned to face her. “Anything.”

  “Could you please not tell anyone that you met me?” She asked. “Anyone in your circle, that is. I mean, you can tell them what happened to you, but just…just don’t mention my name.”

  “I wasn’t planning on broadcasting what happened tonight to anyone, Just-Riley,” he said, frowning. “Who do you know in my circle anyway?”

  When she didn’t answer right away, Ashe walked back towards her apartment. His phone rang again and this time he answered it, muttering that he was on his way down before hanging up.

  “No one,” Riley said, waving him away nervously. “Let’s just say I’m in the Witless Protection Program and my whereabouts are top secret. Yup, that would be it.”

  But Ashe didn’t smile at the joke. His eyes narrowed and Riley’s throat went dry. She saw his face go through a gamut of expressions, ending up with a look that told her he had just guessed whom she must have gone to see on the 28th floor. But then, maybe it was just her imagination. Guilt did that to people.

  Riley cursed under her breath and slipped into her apartment just as Ashe’s phone rang again just as she shut the door. If he was smart, he’d be able to put two and two together, she thought as she rested her forehead against the door. And if she were lucky, Ashe wouldn’t be that smart.

  *

  Ashe may not have been smart, but at least he was thoughtful. The following morning, he sent her two dozen pink and yellow roses, along with a handwritten note.

  Dearest Riley,

  It’s been a long time since someone made me really laugh and last night, you did just that. I’d almost forgotten how good it feels.

  Yours, Ashe

  P.S. I do not think you are a member of the Witless Protection Programme. However, there are a few in my circle I truly believe just may be its founding members.

  Riley couldn’t help but smile as she reread the note three more times before rushing out the door to start the afternoon shift at the Library Cafe, where she worked as assistant manager. Hours later, while there was a lull in the flow of customers she slipped into the cramped back office and typed his name in the Search box.

  His name was Ashe Hunter and as unassuming as he’d acted in front of her last night, he was actually a pretty big star, someone with a few movies under his belt, including one that, according to critics, was expected to be a blockbuster. Just as Collette ha said inside the limousine, he was big.

  That morning, someone had spotted him at JFK, took a picture and promptly posted it online. The accompanying article said that he was heading to London for the world premiere of his latest movie, Sentience, along with fellow actors Gareth Roman and Isobel Reign. After London, they would then embark on a weeklong four-city tour to promote the movie.

  For the first time since they’d broken up, Riley had no desire to look at Gareth’s face. After a brief glance at Gareth and Isobel walking with their heads bowed low from the flashbulbs, Riley turned her attention to Ashe. He looked wonderful, though slightly annoyed at someone taking his picture as he walked through the departure area, a backpack slung over his shoulder and a wheeled carry-on behind him. How he managed to look so dashing at six in the morning, wearing a denim shirt over a dark shirt and jeans, a scarf around his neck, Riley could only surmise had to be due to genetics and perfect bone structure. She couldn’t help but stare at him, and she found herself wishing she’d given her his number after all.

  Still, she knew it had been the right thing to do – not giving away her number. Once the publicity tour was over, he’d have forgotten all about her. She’d just be another blip on the ongoing movie of his life, another dot on his radar. At least she didn’t fall into bed with him or anything, she thought wryly. Then she found herself wondering if he had a girlfriend.

  Riley tore her gaze from the screen, closed the search window and returned to the counter where a customer was waiting for an order of a flat white. Life would go on, no matter what happened, she thought. Even Ashe Hunter would move on, barely remembering her by the time his publicity tour was over — if he’d even remember her at all.

  5

  Miss Perfect

  “So, who is he and why are you keeping secrets from your big sister?” Paige Eames-Caldwell demanded even before Riley could close the door of her apartment behind her. It was sisters’ night and because it was drizzling outside, Paige had opted for a night of wine and gossip at Riley’s apartment instead of heading off to the Top of the Standard. It was Paige’s usual hangout besides Soho House in the meatpacking district. She was also getting over a cold and didn’t exactly want to look like she was looking right now, with her nose slightly tender even underneath her flawless make-up.

  It was something they did each week, and sometimes Paige’s friends joined them, most of them models or make-up artists and stylists Paige knew from her days being a supermodel, though there really wasn’t much of a difference to what she was now. She was still a supermodel, though this time, she was also married to real estate and investment mogul, Clint Caldwell III.

  Riley sometimes felt awkward around Paige’s friends, especially when their conversations drifted towards the exclusive parties they’d attended, which model or celebrity they worked with or bumped into, and who was getting work done. It wasn’t that Riley felt like she didn’t belong in Manhattan’s trendiest spots or hanging out with the hottest crowd. She could actually hold her own if she had to. But with many of Paige’s friends also involved in the movie industry, sometimes it wasn’t long before Gareth’s name would come up, whether it was some new movie he was in, who he was dating, or where he was currently vacationing. It was usually all Riley needed before she’d say that something had come up and she had to leave. Once, Gareth had actually come into the Boom Boom Room and thankfully, it had been Paige who saw him first, and after making their quick exit, both sisters ended up finishing a bottle of wine at Riley’s apartment and from then on, the routine stuck.

  One night a month, it was just her and Paige. They actually discovered that it was nice just to hang out somewhere quiet, with only both of them to keep each other company, with no loud music to talk over and Miss Bailey, Riley’s cat, purring by their side.

  While Paige hung out with her kid sister one night a week, her husband, Clint, stayed home with their triplets, Thomas, Trey and Trevor, though he was far from feeling overwhelmed with babysitting duties. As much as he doted on his three sons, two nannies were available seven days a week, with their living quarters in the apartment building next to their three-story brownstone in SoHo. Clint had his nights out with the boys, too, usually at the Core Club, and during those nights, if Riley wasn’t busy, she’d help Paige keep the boys company, building their Lego sets and assembling trains. She loved her nephews like they were her own children.

  “What do you mean?” Riley asked, trying to act nonchalant. It had been a week since she’d met Ashe – seven days since she’d almost made a fool of herself by showing up at Gareth’s hotel room ready for some ex-sex and pretending that she had gotten over him. But the roses on the counter, now trimmed to a dozen from the original two dozen Ashe had sent, were the dead giveaway that something was up and Riley realized that she should have put them away.

  “Oh, come on, Ri,” Paige said. “Clint stopped by Lee’s last night for take-out. Lee told him you were there with a date last week — some actor. I sure hope to God you and Gareth didn’t get back together.
After the mess Clint and I had to clean up with you, you should know better than to go back to that asshole.”

  “It wasn’t Gareth,” replied Riley.

  “So who is he and where did you meet him? Why are you suddenly keeping secrets from me?”

  “You don’t have to know everything I do,” Riley said, crossing her arms in front of her chest. “We had some noodles and that’s about it. Is that against the law?”

  “No, of course not. But after what Gareth did to you, and the two years it took you to get over him, I’d personally kill him if he hurt you again.” Paige sighed and dropped her hands from her hips. “I’m sorry, Ri. I worry about you. Come here and give your big sis a hug.”

  They hugged for a few seconds before Riley pulled away and offered her sister some wine. Paige accepted a glass of white wine and sat down on the couch. She took a sip and then froze.

  “Since when have you owned a TV?” she asked, sitting up and staring at a small box TV that Riley had set on one of the built-in shelves on the wall. She’d had to sacrifice a few books to make space for that small television with its built-in VHS player, but she didn’t mind.

  “Since Wayne was about to toss it out,” Riley replied, sitting on the opposite end of the couch and tucking her bare feet underneath her. Wayne Callas was her next-door neighbor, and Riley often watched his apartment for him when he traveled. “He bought a flat-screen for his kitchen, so he didn’t need this anymore. He said he never used it anyway, so it’s practically brand-new. It even comes with a remote.”

  Paige laughed. “No one uses VHS anymore, Ri. Clint and I could give you a flat-screen for Christmas. I swear you’re an old lady inside.”

  “No, I’m not. I just have no room for anything else. You know how I like to read more than watch TV, and when I do have to watch something, I do it on my laptop,” Riley protested. “Anyway, I’m hardly ever home long enough to do anything else but eat, sleep and make coffee.”